80. Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Home Secretary whether passports have been issued to the following people: Alexander Ivanovich Mancho, Philip Rabinovich, Leo Rabinovich, Boris Malzmann, Reuben Terakopoff; and, if so, for what purposes they are resident here; whether they are liable for Income Tax; and for how long they have been given leave to stay?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThis question appeared on the Paper for the first time on Saturday morning, and it has been impossible, in the short time available for inquiry, to collect the detailed information asked for. I will look into the matter and communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIn any case, may I ask why this information should be given? Why is it necessary to explain why visas have been given to people to come here, if the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied? Has he not answered me that he is satisfied in certain cases and that he will give me no information? Why should special information be given to the hon. and gallant Gentleman who has asked this question?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. and gallant Friend has not yet received any information from me. I have told him that I will look into the matter and communicate with him. I do not say what I will tell him.
Commander LOCKER - LAMPSONWith my right hon. Friend's permission, I will put the question on the Paper again next week.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to understand that any hon. Member who cares to put a question of this character can get private information sent to him by any Cabinet Minister?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am not at all fond of this sort of question myself. I 1544 remember several, from my left, relating to the admission of foreign musicians.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I put it to you, Mr. Speaker, that to similar questions in the past information has been refused. We were told that it was the Department's prerogative, and that that was the end of it.
§ Mr. MACLEANWe have just heard from the Home Secretary that he will communicate with the hon. and gallant Gentleman who put this question. If a Cabinet Minister can send on information that is looked upon as private and confidential in his particular Department, it should be provided for any hon. Member. Is it not in the public interest that the information should be given in this House?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. and gallant Friend has asked that he might put his question in the House next week, and the answer will then be given in the House.
§ Mr. MACLEANIt was the Home Secretary's reply to the first question put with which I was dealing.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is a common and useful practice to send information to an hon. Member, but if there be a desire that it should be done, the Minister always accedes to the request that the information should be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.